The Nacogdoches ISD board of trustees voted unanimously Thursday to hire Arrow Educational Services to search for interim Superintendent Alton Frailey’s replacement.  Arrow Educational Services presented to the board during an agenda review meeting Monday. In the past 21 years, the company has found and placed 170 superintendents in Texas school districts. “It’s time. This district deserves a superstar,” said Arrow Educational Services executive Russell Marshall on Monday. “I think this is still the great district that it has always been. I feel like I have the knowledge of East Texas and of Nacogdoches. What you want is someone wearing your brand. Someone bleeding that black and gold.”By Nathan Wicker nathan.wicker@dailysentinel.com

The cost of the search was not publicly announced during Thursday’s meeting, nor was a timetable for a slate of candidates.

The decision to begin the search came Frailey announced Oct. 24 that he would be leaving the district. His last day on the job has not been announced.

Frailey came to NISD on a temporary basis after retiring as superintendent of Katy ISD. His most notable achievement came when voters passed a $77.9 million bond passed in November 2018.

Trustees also gave unanimous approval to bundling three capstone bond projects—the new Emeline Carpenter Elementary building, McMichael Middle School renovation and a career and technology building at Nacogdoches High School — to a guaranteed maximum price of $49.7 million.

This move allows for financial flexibility and a simple transfer of funds between the three projects. A new press box at Dragon Stadium is on hold until the board receives a lower bid. And, in a worse-case scenario, the press box will be the first project sacrificed in order to fulfill the three capstone projects, Frailey said.

“The bottom line, these projects are an investments for our students for years to come,” said board president G.W. Neal.

Trustees also approved the purchase of 125 Chromebook computers, licenses and three computer carts for Nacogdoches High School at a cost of $34,692.50 as part of the consent agenda — a cluster of items approved in a single vote.

“This will help increase student access to technology in order to create enhanced, engaging learning experiences for all students,” said NHS principal Rom Crespo.

Also approved on the consent agenda was the Expect Respect curriculum. The curriculum is designed to promote safe and healthy teen relationships, support youth and changing social norms as well as increasing bystander interventions and individual skills for healthy relationships. The curriculum aligns with Senate Bills 435 and 11 and HB 18, which deals with mental health, prevention and intervention, safety and healthy school environments, conflict resolution and violence prevention.